Trucks, Trailers, Towing and Misc Accessories

[CamarosRus]

Still looking for expert advice, experienced opinions on towing my open trailer with non equalizing ball mount/hitch.

Say my trailer weighs 1500lb and I have a 3500+ lb car on it. I'm now at or over the 5000# Weight limit placed upon many of the 2" receiver 2"(whatever) dropped ball mount and ball.

In looking at Etrailer.com (for example) I have noticed there are some 6000# Ball Mounts and 2" Balls with 1 1/4" Shanks rather than 1".

I've also seen forged ball mounts rated at 10,000GVW.....

These above questions are NOT for the 2 5/16" Balls and Load Equal Hitches, but your lighter duty typical boat trailer and flat bed trailer rigs

Please educate us wanting to learn, before we make a costly mistake.......

Thanks

[70 copo]

[ QUOTE ]
Elsewhere on this site is new thread about a truck/trailer towing accident where the ball broke etc etc.

I'm interested in reading opinions on towing my open/flat bed car trailer when NOT using the load equalizing hitch.

(I think my 2 5/16" Load Equalizing set up is rated at 10,000lb)

I currently have a 3" dropped/offset ballmount with 5000lb rated ball mount and 2" 5000lb ball..........towing a loaded open trailer that weighs in excess of 5000lb.

What should I have for equip ?????

(NOTE: The above is NOT talking about my enclosed
trailer using 2 5/16" ball and gear)

Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]


Chuck,

Good rule of thumb is to buy USA made quality hitches, balls, and receivers. All solid construction and be sure to buy over rated for the load you are going to carry.

Make sure to tack weld the ball nut on the bottom, because
if that nut ever works loose you are in for big trouble.

[Donnie]

also ANY open trailer hauling a car on it should have a 2 5/16" ball and coupler.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
also ANY open trailer hauling a car on it should have a 2 5/16" ball and coupler.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not true.

The size of the coupler is determined by the manufacturer and done so according to the industry towing standards. Yes, you could special order or change yourself a 2 5/16 coupler on these smaller trailers. However 2 5/16 ball/couplers are typically reserved for the 10,000 lb. equalizer hitch set ups.

Tow responsibly with no more than what the towing vehicle is rated for, use electric brakes and controller where required and balance the load on the trailer for the correct tongue weight on the towing vehicle.

Most importantly SLOW DOWN. Regardless of your towing vehicle it will handle and brake differently then it does without towing a trailer.

[Donnie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
also ANY open trailer hauling a car on it should have a 2 5/16" ball and coupler.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not true.

The size of the coupler is determined by the manufacturer and done so according to the industry towing standards. Yes, you could special order or change yourself a 2 5/16 coupler on these smaller trailers. However 2 5/16 ball/couplers are typically reserved for the 10,000 lb. equalizer hitch set ups.

Tow responsibly with no more than what the towing vehicle is rated for, use electric brakes and controller where required and balance the load on the trailer for the correct tongue weight on the towing vehicle.

Most importantly SLOW DOWN. Regardless of your towing vehicle it will handle and brake differently then it does without towing a trailer.

[/ QUOTE ]

must be a west coast thing every open "car" trailer that ive ever used was 2 5/16"

[Smokey]

My Featherlite open is a 2 inch.

[CamarosRus]

I will be installing 12 Volt Chinese mfg winch onto the floor of my Pace American enclosed trailer.

Asking to SEE pics and/or READ clear concise suggestions as to how to buy, mount and wire battery set-up.

My 20' trailer has minimal room in front of car. I'd like to keep this winch/battery mount as clean as possible, so as to leave max room available for other "stuff".

Another member said he had only placed steel plate on lower side of plywood floor (nothing welded to trailer frame) and bolted winch mounting brkt on top side ???????

My trailer does have 110 interior lighting & wall plug. Would one of those small float chargers be sufficient to maintain winch battery. No matter guess I could use any
battery charger to maintain winch battery.

Thanks for your help.........

[Musclecarkid]

Chuck

I pull an 18ft open trailer with my 97 Z71 Xcab 4x4. Full diamond plate with beaver tail, 4 wheel electric brakes. Mfg'd by JB Enterprises in Elkhart Ind. Weighs about 1800 lbs empty. I always use the load equalizer 2 5/16 hitch setup with the bars empty or loaded. Much firmer ride with the bars hooked up. I tow Chevelles, Novas, Corvettes Camaros etc 3000-4000lbs all the time. Never an issue. Very safe and you don't even know the trailer is back there till you look in the mirrors. Can tow at 70 mph + been to 90mph at times empty. Not even a wiggle. Braking with the trailer on the back stops better than the truck by itself.

[njsteve]

Anyone know of a good internet site for purchasing the Greenball Towmaster trailer tires? I need the 225/75R15s and neither Tirerack or Treaddepot carry that line of tires.

[Canuck]

For all the unsung heros of our hobby our tow vehicles and parts haulers,I Though I would move this tread up with an update on my GMC Yukon. I have owned it 10 years this month and it just turned 100,000 miles or 160,000 in KM.

I have no plans to replace it as it has the unique Quadrasteer that was only available from 2002-2005.The truck has been amazing as over 20% of its mileage has been towing a trailer, either the Airstream or a 24 foot Wells Cargo.

Longest trip with Car trailer, Vancouver to Detroit 2008 .5600 mile round trip
Longest Trip with Airstream. Vancouver to Napa 2011 2500 mile round trip.

It has crossed the Rockies 10 times towing.

Repair wise I would rate it at average for the truck body and above average for the drive train. Most repairs have been minor for a vehicle getting severe tow usage.
So far it has no accidents and the only paint repair being the flairs.
Second set of Michelin 10 ply tires.
3 rd brake job (used Jobber parts on the second brake job and hatted the results)
On third windshied
Third Bug/rock deflector
Replaced water pump
Replaced AC comp.
Both of these were more preventative rather than unit failure due to other monor repairs.
One major tune up at 75,000 miles
One rear end bearing failed just ouside of warranty, being a quadrasteer this was an expensive repair.
Things that failed that were minor annoyances:
Passanger side power window.
Both manifolds broke off bolts due to thermal expansion.
Starting motor.
Dash cluster
Rear seat track broke.
Drivers seat upholstery

Engine and trans perform like new with no consumption in between 5000 mile Oil changes using Mobil 1 since new.

Not sure when I can expect things like rad replacement of trans trouble on the 480LE.

I expect I will be giving a 20 year report in 2023.

If there is one thing I could change, if GM offered this in a DuraMax.



Paul